1898 Mataura by-election
# 1898 Mataura by-election

The Mataura by-election, 1898 was a by-election held on 26 May 1898 during the 13th New Zealand Parliament in the rural lower South Island electorate of Mataura.

## Background

The by-election was triggered after sitting Member George Richardson was declared bankrupt. Robert McNab stated that had Richardson contested the election, he would not have accepted a nomination and allowed him to return unopposed. McNab had previously represented the Mataura electorate from 1893 to 1896 when he was defeated by Richardson.

## Results

The following table gives the election results:

1898 Mataura by-election :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Robert McNab | 1,894 | 55.68 |
| | Independent | Wilfrid Francis Ward | 1,507 | 44.31 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 387 | 11.37 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,401 | |

After winning the contest, McNab held the seat uninterrupted until 1908 when he was defeated.

